Ноккрогери: История и наследие ирландской деревни.

Village in County Roscommon, Ireland

Knockcroghery is a village and townland in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located on the N61 road between Athlone and Roscommon town, near Lough Ree on the River Shannon. The townland of Knockcroghery is in the civil parish of Killinvoy and the historical barony of Athlone North. Knockcroghery developed as a largely linear settlement close to Galey Castle, a 14th century tower house overlooking Galey Bay. By the 18th century, the village comprised a number of small houses, shops, blacksmith, mill, church and a fair green. For a number of centuries, the village economy was focused on the making of clay tobacco pipes, with eight kilns employing approximately 100 people by the 19th century. In the early 20th century, much of the village was burnt in a reprisal attack by the Black and Tans during the Irish War of Independence, and a number of buildings in the village centre date from a subsequent rebuilding exercise. As of the early 21st century, it is classified as a "key village" for planning purposes by Roscommon County Council, with Knockcroghery acting as a commuter village for Athlone, Roscommon town, Longford town and Ballinasloe. The Ó Ceallaighs resisted and for their defiance were taken to An Creagán and hanged en masse on the stepped hill just north of the village, now commonly known as Hangman's Hill. The village thereafter came to be known as Cnoc an Chrochaire ('Hangman's Hill'), now Anglicised as 'Knockcroghery'.

Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of ringfort sites in Knockcroghery townland itself, and in the surrounding townlands of Glebe and Lisnahoon. Knockcroghery village developed close to the 14th century tower house of Galey Castle overlooking Lough Ree. By the 18th century, it had grown to include a number of small thatched homes, several shops, a blacksmith, a mill, a post office, police barracks, a church and a fair green.

From the 18th century onwards, the village was known for the production of the tobacco clay pipe, or "dúidín". By the late 19th century, there were up to 100 people involved in the manufacture and distribution of the village's clay pipes. Production ceased abruptly on 21 June 1921 when the village was burned down by the Black and Tans during the Irish War of Independence. Today, a visitor centre and workshop are located on the original site of Andrew and P. J. Curley's pipe factory, where pipes are handcrafted using the original methods of production. There had also been a crockery industry in the village until the mid to late 19th century, until imports from Staffordshire made the business unviable.

On the evening of Thursday 26 August 1920, 36 year old Royal Irish Constabulary Constable William J Potter, who was temporarily stationed in Kiltoom, was cycling with fellow Constable Michael McMahon, from Roscommon to Kiltoom. The Constables were ambushed by the Irish Volunteers on the Athlone side of the level crossing in Knockcroghery, who fired at them. As the pair sped past the Volunteers and tried to escape, Constable Potter was shot through the right lung and fell to the ground, where he died. Constable McMahon survived, but resigned from the RIC shortly afterward. Constable Potter's assassination led to Kiltoom RIC barracks being abandoned. A few days later, while a fair was going on in Knockcroghery, a party of Black and Tans arrived in the village and, in retaliation for Constable Potter's death, they rounded up all the men into the village's Gaelic handball alley and beat them with bull whips. The Black and Tans also requisitioned several tins of paint from a local shop and forced the men to paint over an Irish tricolour that had recently been painted onto the wall of the handball alley. The Black and Tans then forced the men to place their hands onto the wet paint and then put their hands into their pockets and wipe them on their clothes.

Near Galey Bay on the shore of Lough Ree stands Galey Castle, seat of the Chiefs of Clan Ó Ceallaigh and built in 1348. Galey Bay was the location of a regatta held annually from the 1870s till the late 1920s. The regattas were run by Lord Crofton of Mote Park. The ruin of the old Quaker meeting house still stands in Ballymurray. Portrun is the local lakeside resort and is used by both tourists and locals during the summer months. Scregg House, seat of the Kelly family from the 18th century onwards, is located nearby. On the grounds of the house are some excellent examples of Sheela na Gigs. The building itself is an example of a 3 storey 5 bay mid 18th century country house. Culleen Hall is located 1 km south of Knockcroghery, and is used as a venue for concerts and local events, as well as a local pre school. Hangman's Hill, the site of the hangings of the Ó Ceallaigh clan in the 17th century, is located at the northern end of the village, opposite the Post Office. The Clay Pipe Visitors' Centre is located on the site of the former clay pipe factory. Visitors can witness the manufacturing of clay pipes by traditional methods and learn about the history of the industry. The Record of Protected Structures, as maintained by Roscommon County Council, includes Scregg House and a number of other 19th century buildings in the Knockcroghery area. The village's Anglican church was demolished with explosives in 1966. The stone from the church was reused to build a church elsewhere. The local school was temporarily evacuated for the demolition. The site formerly occupied by the Anglican church is now occupied by a petrol station. The former rectory associated with the village's former Anglican church remains standing. In the early 1950s, the tower and spire were completed, the bell was installed and the choir gallery was built. At the same time, repair works were carried out, the church was replastered internally and wiring for electric lighting and heating was installed in anticipation of the arrival of rural electrification. In the meantime, lighting was provided by a petrol powered generator. The carved limestone baptismal font in St Patrick's Church came from the old church in Ballymurray (now the site of Ballymurray National School). It was initially used as a holy water font inside the front door before being moved to its current location beside the altar to be used as a baptismal font. The smaller carved limestone holy water font, which is built into the wall inside the tower door, is believed to have come from the old church in Culleen (now Cullen Hall). The stained glass windows on the Eastern side of the church depict the history of the church in Ireland, including the old thatched church in Ballymurray. Roscommon railway station is now the nearest station and is located 10 km from Knockcroghery village. It is on the Westport Dublin line, also serving indirect routes to Ballina, Galway and Ennis. Knockcroghery is served by Bus Éireann's Route 440 (Westport Athlone), with indirect routes to Galway, Dublin and other towns. The village is situated on the main N61 road between Athlone and Roscommon towns, and near the M6 Galway Dublin motorway.

During the days of Gaelic Ireland and of the Irish clans, there was a tradition similar to the first Welsh Eisteddfod in 1176. Irish clan chiefs would host feasts for their clansmen, servants, and warriors which centered around a contest between Irish language bards, whose poetry was performed by professional singers accompanied by a harp. As in 12th century Wales, the clan chief always chose the winner with the approval of those assembled. This tradition, which arose during the 14th century, was termed a Gairm Sgoile (Early Modern Irish: 'summoning', or 'gathering', 'of the [Bardic] school'). The traditional Irish phrase, "fáilte Uí Cheallaigh" ("an O'Kelly welcome") dates from Christmas Day, 1351 when Uilliam Buí Ó Ceallaigh, Chief of the Name of Clan Ó Ceallaigh and King of Uí Mháine, (which roughly covered what is now East County Galway and South County Roscommon) invited the poets, writers and artists of Ireland to a great feast at his seat, Gailey Castle. It was during this feast that the poet, Gofraidh Fionn Ó Dálaigh, wrote the poem, Filidh Éireann go hAointeach, which remembers the feast.

Knockcroghery fair was traditionally held in late August and late October of each year. The October sheep fair remained popular throughout the 19th century, with 12,000 sheep for sale in 1860. The fair green was on a gentle hill in the centre of the village. The lower end now forms the village green and the higher end is now the Greenhills housing estate. The fair ceased during the mid 20th century but was revived in 1993 as an annual festival held on the third weekend of September, incorporating a funfair, sheep fair and events. The revived fair continued each year until 2013.

The Galey Bay Regatta, an annual yachting regatta, was held from 1872 until 1913 by the Lords Crofton, who owned a boathouse on Galey Bay of Lough Ree adjoining Galey castle. Many visiting houseboats were anchored in the bay during the regatta. The yachts varied from 25 ton cutters to 18 foot spritsail lake boats. The regattas were the idea of Edward Crofton and his brother Alfred. After most of the lands had been sold to the adjoining farmers, the Croftons left the area and the regattas were no more. The Croftons were supported in organising the regattas by enthusiasts who came both from Lough Ree Yacht Club and Lough Derg. Lord Crofton was always the chairman of the organising committee. when he was challenged to find a word to rhyme with the village's name.

Saint Dominic's GAA park is home to the local GAA club and is located on the Athlone side of the village. Knockcroghery was the home of Roscommon's All Ireland Football Championship winning captain Jimmy Murray (5 May 1917 – 23 January 2007). He captained Roscommon to their only two All Ireland Senior Football title wins in 1943 and 1944. He was also captain in their 1946 final and replay against Kerry.